Painted in 1734-5 to 'promote his interest' (the completed picture was raffled, each sitter paying four guineas). Grouped round Matthew Robinson, amateur draughtsman and father of Elizabeth Montagu, the blue-stocking, are some of the leading artists and architects of the 1730s, who used to meet at the King's Arms in New Bond Street, London.

Simon, Jacob, The Art of the Picture Frame: Artists, Patrons and the Framing of Portraits in Britain, 1997 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 8 November 1996 - 9 February 1997), p. 44

Current affairs

Second Parliament under George III. Robert Walpole maintains a substantial majority. Lord Bolingbroke gives up active opposition to Walpole and retires to France. Walpole moves into 10 Downing Street.Welsh Methodist revival begins.

Art and science

Celebrated dandy Richard 'Beau' Nash appoints himself Master of Ceremonies at Tunbridge Wells.William Hogarth founds the second St Martin's Lane Academy of Painting. Lawyer and amateur meteorologist George Hadley publishes the first explanation of the trade winds

International

Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus publishes a 'system of nature', capable of classifying all living things.Swedish chemist Georg Brandt discovers a new metallic element, which he names cobalt.A revivalist movement in America, led by Jonathan Edwards, becomes known as the Great Awakening.Composer Johann Sebastian Bach debuts his Ascension Oratorio in Leipzig.

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